Planning and Programming a Hotel
Planning and Programming a Hotel Jan A. deRoos If you are planning a hotel you must balance functional, layout, and aesthetic issues to develop a property that simultaneously meets the needs of the guests, the staff, and the owner. In general, five- star properties have public areas that are heavily design oriented, with the functional aspects carefully integrated to enhance, yet not dominate the space. However, budget properties tend to favor function and layout over design, for maximum utility. Regardless of how the spaces are configured, the developer must consider and balance many conflicting needs before a design is ready for the contractor's hand. The best examples provide properties that inspire; are safe, efficient, and cost effective; and that maintain their utility and charm through time. Programming is the process of defining the activities that will be conducted within a hotel, allocating the requisite space, and establishing relationships between the spaces. This is one of the first steps in the development process. While the developer may work with an architect in developing the program, the developer is responsible for creating the program and for ensuring that the building is designed to accomplish the goals set out in the program. In addition to detailing the activities, space allocations, and relationships within the building, a successful program helps to establish the way the building or buildings are situated on a site, the onsite automobile and pedestrian flows, and connections to the external world. In almost all cases, the activities are the starting point. Once the activities are defined, relationships among them are established.
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